Alumni Recognition

Alumni Recognition

LBJ School alumni take the mission of public service out of the classroom and into the workplace to truly change the world.

The LBJ School and The University of Texas at Austin strive to recognize outstanding alumni achievement.

Distinguished Public Service Award

The Distinguished Public Service Award (DPSA) was established in 1989 by the LBJ School Alumni Board. The award is presented each year to an LBJ School alumnus whose career and public service record best represent the values on which the school was founded.

Selection Criteria

Nominees must have made significant contributions to public policy; promoted the advancement of the public affairs vocation; been engaged in community service and/or volunteerism; shown commitment to the LBJ School and its mission; and demonstrated leadership, the ability to work well with diverse people, and other attributes (honors/awards, etc.).

Nomination Process

Nomination packages should include:

A cover letter stating the justification for the nomination

A current version of the nominee's résumé, curriculum vitae or biography

Name, address, telephone number and email address of the individual(s) submitting the nomination

Anyone may submit nominations, and individuals who have attended the LBJ School for more than one year are eligible to be nominated. To reactivate a nomination that was submitted within the past two years, the nominator must submit a new cover letter and, if needed, provide the update information.

Send nominations to the Alumni Board Recognition Committee, c/o Alumni Relations or through U.S. mail to LBJ School of Public Affairs, P.O. Box Y, University Station, Austin, TX, 78713-8925.

Selection Committee

The selection committee includes members of the Alumni Board Recognition Committee, the Alumni Board faculty representative, the Alumni Board GPAC representative, and the previous year's Distinguished Public Service Award winner.

Rising Leader Award

The Rising Leader Award was established in 2017 by the LBJ School Alumni Board. The award aims to recognize the efforts of our more recent alumni, honoring professional achievement for LBJ graduates under the age of 40 or within the first ten years of their LBJ School graduation.

Selection Criteria

The award recognizes alumni who have stood out as leaders and catalysts for change, and who have made a meaningful difference to individuals, organizations or governments. Recipients exemplify the LBJ mission of “improving the quality of public service in the United States and abroad at all levels of governance and civic engagement.”

Nomination Process

Anyone can nominate an LBJ alumn for this award with a letter of recommendation. Including a resume or CV of the nominee is encouraged but optional. Alumni may nominate themselves. All nominations are confidential.

Submit nominations to the Alumni Board Recognition Committee, c/o Alumni Relations or through U.S. mail to LBJ School of Public Affairs, P.O. Box Y, Austin, TX 78713.

Selection Committee

The selection committee includes members of the Alumni Board Recognition Committee, the Alumni Board faculty representative, the Alumni Board GPAC representative, and the previous year's Rising Leader Award winner.

Spirit of LBJ Award

Started with seed and matching funds from Ben Barnes, the Spirit of LBJ Award recognizes students whose commitment to the greater LBJ School community goes above and beyond to capture Lyndon B. Johnson’s spirit of vision, leadership and action.

Selection Criteria

The Austin Alumni Chapter gives the award to incoming second-year student(s) who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the LBJ School and the greater Austin community, and who exhibit a strong sense of ethics and integrity.